using an iPod has the advantage that all your playlists, music with DRM, etc. are available. AND for podcasts, the iPod remembers your last location in the file when resuming (if that feature is checked in iTunes).

Music loaded onto the HDD internal hard drive will be arranged into the usual categories of Artist, Album, Track, etc. But iPod playlists do not exist on the HDD. And music tracks with DRM are not recognised. Purchased tunes that are DRM-free (iTunes Plus) work fine on the HDD.

Podcasts on the HDD or the USB thumb drive port play fine, but bookmarks are not remembered. You have to manually fast forward to the place you stopped listening the last time. A real pain if you are doing short drives.

I use the iPod for the most flexibility, but have also loaded lots onto the HDD to use anytime the iPod is unavailable.

My Classic will automatically turn itself off if I pause it then don't resume playing after a few minutes. I don't know if that behavior would change if it knows it's plugged into the GC or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robey5

I may be called 'out' for this one, but - with the large HD in the radio (430/730N = 30GB HD) - why would you want to use the IPOD at all? I (personally) would load up the HD, and leave the IPOD at home, or at the office, or wherever I'd need it (like for the work out, or snowboard park session).

Am I missing something??

For me, it would be podcasts. I listen to those far more often on my commute to work than I do music.

I may be called 'out' for this one, but - with the large HD in the radio (430/730N = 30GB HD) - why would you want to use the IPOD at all? I (personally) would load up the HD, and leave the IPOD at home, or at the office, or wherever I'd need it (like for the work out, or snowboard park session).

Am I missing something??

There is only 16 (or is it 13) gig useable on the 30 gig drive. The rest is OS, databases, etc.

I may be called 'out' for this one, but - with the large HD in the radio (430/730N = 30GB HD) - why would you want to use the IPOD at all? I (personally) would load up the HD, and leave the IPOD at home, or at the office, or wherever I'd need it (like for the work out, or snowboard park session).

Am I missing something??

Yes.

The built in HD has abysmal playlist capability. It organizes by folders, so if you like the same song in multiple lists, it needs to be on there multiple times. It doesn't have the ability to add to a playlist, so if you want to add ONE song to a 150 song list, hope you have time to reload the whole thing.

It's a nice feature to have, but it was implemented poorly. It's well suited to small playlists of 30 songs or so, but I only use it as a backup to the iPod and Sirius radio, not as my primary listening choice.

Alright: well put. It is a bit frustrating (...or, false advertisemnent?? I will not get carried away over here though) that a 30Gb HD is there, but only 50% (or less) is really available for storage of music.

Looking forward to taking delivery of my Overland some time next week (vehicle = in transit) - so I will be able to report my POV on the HD abilities and loading.

The built in HD has abysmal playlist capability. It organizes by folders, so if you like the same song in multiple lists, it needs to be on there multiple times. It doesn't have the ability to add to a playlist, so if you want to add ONE song to a 150 song list, hope you have time to reload the whole thing.

It's a nice feature to have, but it was implemented poorly. It's well suited to small playlists of 30 songs or so, but I only use it as a backup to the iPod and Sirius radio, not as my primary listening choice.

There's always hope for a software update to make that HDD more usable. As you describe it, I can see how it would be a marginal feature at the moment.